Recording apparatus.



J. R. PEIRGE.

RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1908.

1,1 10,643, Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

METER CARD WITNESSES: I

J. R PEIRCE.

RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY2,1908.

latented Sept. 15, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LJ INVENTOR WITNESSES:

J. R. PEIRGE.

RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2, 1908.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FIG. 8.

FIG. 7,

i =5 w. 2 22.265 122x23 I 6 H II II I ll MM FU L 0 m m= QPJWT w r? ill 2. fi

-INVENTOR I,

., )1 or/mav WITNESSES:

J. R. PEIRGE.

RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILEDJULY 2, 190B.

Y INVENTOR yflw Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

%v Allow:

WITNESSES;

J. R. PEIRGE.

RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1908.

1,110,643, Patented Sept-.15,1914. v

r 10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVENTOR J. R. PE-IRGE.

- RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLIQA T10N FILED JULYZ, 1908.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

10 SHEBTSSHEET 6.

FIG, /7.

INVENTOR axe e1 WITNESSES "76w J. R. PEIROE.

RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 190B.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914,

' 10 SHEETSSHEET 7.

FIG. 20.

D D. A c E R T M S .A G

43 5 6 6 9 6 9 5 DIS CONSUMERS N AMOUNT IN DAT- E 55A 55B 55G $1144 Mia-L WITNESSES: 3km 4 10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

J. R. PEIROE.

RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION PILBD'JULY 2, 1908.

FIG. 2/

WiTNESSES:

J, R. PEIBGB.

RECORDING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2, 1908.

1,1 1,64% Pmemea Sept.15,1914.

l0 SHEETS"SHEET 9 funnnnnjnnW/Wnnnnm LII | I 1 .lllilllll .f 1 6 p INVENTOR WITNESSES:

M I J 0172mm I J. R. PEIRGB.

RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1908.

1, 1 10,643, Q Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 10 FIG. 2 9.

1 I l l 1 1mm (J I Q OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I 888888888888888 O J 92 L Z l Flaw.

p I 11.62%! 1 I A l B 3 6 100 ooo I o v 0% 0 8 8 o o 9 l o lo 0 OQOOOAOOOOOOOOO (R INVENTOR STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Jenn nornnn rnmen, or new YonK, -n. Y.

RECORDING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may; concern Be it known that 1, JOHN. Roronn Parson,

a citizen of the United States, residing m the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in. Recording Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to provide improvements apparatus for recording the ad.- vanceer position ofthe registering mechanism of a meter.

by punching a card, or in place of the punches there maybe substituted printing ress during certain intervals, this combination being especially useful with machinery registers.

Preferably. the punching or similar re-'v cording mechanism 1s controlled by the position of: the meter, and is. adapted to be actuated at any time that a record is to be made of such position. Preferably also it fixed number or symbol is punched in the card at the same-time to identify. the meter from which the record is taken, or to indionto a rate by whichzthe meter reading is to be multiplied,- o r for similar purposes.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments. of the invention.

Figure 1 is a card punched to record the position of-the meter. Fig. 2 isa per-spec.- tive view of a gas meter withlthe improved mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the recording mechanism, with the outer wall of the pocket removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the shaft which transmits the movement of the meter to the recording mechanism, and which is referred to as the meter shaft, the plane of section being indicated approximately at 4,4 of Fig. 7. Fig. 5-is an ohlique'front elevation of the gearing. and con nected parts, the plane of section beingaapproximately alongthe line 55 of Fig.- 9. Fig; 6 is anelevation of'the right-hand sideof Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan' of the apparatus-with the cover removed. 'Fig. 8 is auplan, omit- Specification of letters Iatent. Animation filed July a 1 08. Seriel- No. mp1s. I

The record may be made- Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

ting the gearing. Fig. 9 isa-transverse section showing the principal parts in end elevatlon. F 1g. 9 is a similar view showing the parts in. the position of actuation of the punches. Figs. 10- to 18 inclusive are sideelevations of various details,-Fig. 10 showing the mechanism for turning the punch-controlling disks back to zero; Fig. 11 showing the mechanism for opening the pocket and stoppingthe punch-controlling ;d1Sl S at zero on their backward movement;

Fig. 12 showing a lock for holding the two.

lines of gears in mesh with each other; Fig. 13 the mechanism for withdrawing the punches from the card; Fig. 14 the mechanism for operating the punches carrying the fixed number Fig. 15 the. mechanism for .wlthdrawing the pawl whichprevents the rotation of the punch-controlling disks durng the punching operation, so as to permit them to beturned back to. zero; Fig. 15 a similar view showing'the parts in another position; Fig. 16 the transmission of the tenth step from one decimal place to the next;

Fig. 17 the ratchet and pawl for restoring i the punch-controllingdisks to zero, and Fig. 518 the escapement for convertingthe move- ;;ment of the meter shaft to an intermittent i movement of the punch+controlling mocha lnism. Fig. 19 refers to a second embodiment. of the invention and is a diagram in @elevation of mechanism for utilizing the apparatus in connection with an electricity tmeter. Figs. 20 to 25-inclusive refer to a lthird embodiment of the invention. Fig. 20 is a face View of another style ofcard which is made by the machine of Figs. 21 to 25. i Fig. 21 is a side elevation, partly in section, Eofanother type of punching apparatus. %Figs. 21, 21 and22 are details of the same. Fig. 23 is a cross-section of Fig.- 21 trans- }verse to the slides carrying the punching Qpins. Fig. 24 is a section parallel to and lbetween two such-slides. 'Fig. 25 is a secitional view of the gearing of Fig. 21. Figs. Q26 to-30 inclusive refer to afourth embodi-- ment of the invention.- Fig. 26 is a sec- {tional viewof an-apparatus'for taking not ;only differential but also total records of {gas Figs.- 27 and 28' are views of the same 'gapparatus similar to Figs. 7 and 8. Figs. 29 ';and 30 are-respectively a front. elevation of ;said apparatus and a face view of a card j punched thereby. Y

The card punched with ap aratus is deslgned 'toserve asa controller or repro ducing the item represented by the osition of the meter in a listing, adding, b' ing, or other printing or typewritin machine. The card may be any sheet, lea or rlbbon, of light cardboard or other sultable material.

We will describe the application of the apparatus of Figsl to 18 to a gas meter, and its use in connection with other meters will be understood. It is built in the form of an incased attachment A adapted to be mounted above a vertical shaft in a regular meter B with the shaft extending up into the casing A. The complete apparatus is quite small and inexpensive, and is positive and reliable in operation. It is equipped with two sets of punches or pins or other recording devices. One set registers the number of cubic feet of gas, being operated directly from the meter shaft, while the second set is operated from the meter shaft and through an intermediate gear proportioned to the price of gas, and registers the advance of the meter in dollars and cents. That is to say, with gas at a dollar per thousand cubic feet the rate gear would be designed for a ratio of 10 to 1, so that when ten cubic feet are registered on one set of punches, one cent is registered on the'second set. Preferably after taking oil a record of the position ofthe meter, the mechanism which records dollars and cents is'shifted back to zero, so that each money reading represents the cost of the gas passing through the meter between the last reading and the present one. 'This is a point of extreme practical utility.

The casing of the apparatus is normally closed to prevent the introduction of a card, or other tampering with the mechanism, by unauthorized persons, being fastened by a Yale or similar lock of which only the gas company has the key. In order to take a reading, the box is'first unlocked and the card placed in it, after which the operator draws the key or handle forward, and the entire record is perforated in the card. The perforations made by the first set of punches correspond with the actual reading of the meter, while those made by the second set of punches correspond with the cost in dollars and cents of the amount of gas consumed between the previous reading and the I resent one. These punchings are preferab y in the second and third columns of the card, the first column'being punched to correspond with the date, a separate machine being preferably used for this purpose. There are no actual. lines marked on the card, but Fig. 1 shows in dotted lines the limits of the three columnsA', B. and C. In adition to recording the position of the meter, the card is punched or otherwise marked and referably in the same machine, with a num r identifying the meter and also the consumer, such, for example, as the number 16,260, as shown at D on the card in Fig. 1. This operation may be performed by a small die in the machine, carrying the fixed number.

At the end of a day all the cards taken on that day are punched by a simple datin machine, and are ready for use by the 00kkeeper in makin up his ledger and other account books. dechanism adapted to be controlled by the meter card for these purposes is described in other applications for patents which I have filed, and need not be described at length here.

Referring to the embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 18 inclusive, the apparatus is provided on its front wall with a pocket the inner and outer walls C, D of which are provided with perforations corresponding to the punches, and with perforations for the passage of suitable setting pins. The bottom of the pocket is rovided with openin s E for the escape o dust or dirt, and substantially the entire pocket is covered by a shield F to protect the ends of the pins from ex osure. The top of the pocket, through WhlCh the card is inserted, is normally closed by a removable cover G supported upon arms H fixed on a shaft J which is turned to swing the cover G inward by mechanism hereinafter described when the record is to be taken.

Any system of perforating may be adopted. The mechanism of Fig. 3 is adapted to use a system in which the several digits are represented by various combinations of four perforations, the four punches for each digit of the number to be punched being arranged in a vertical line with each other. Five such lines are shown for recording the number of cubic feet of gas, and five for the dollars and cents. It will be appreciated that out of four punches enough different combinations may be effected to represent any desired digit from zero to nine.

The several recording punches K are sup- 11 orted at their forward ends in the rear wall of the pocket, and at their rear ends in an upright standard L through which. they project rearwardly. They are advanced by disks M which swing forward against their rear ends and they are retracted by a plate N engaging collars O on the pins, which plate carries setting pins P and advances at each operation of the machine so as to permit the advance of any selected group of punches, and which is withdrawn. rearwardly after each operation so 'as to rotate all the punches which have been advanced,

to their rearward position. I

The disks M for operating the punches are provided on their peripheries with projectlons and recesses in ten groups, the projections and recesses of each group being differently arran ed so that when any group is brought in reglster with a line of four of placement I secondar moses .a sleeve Q. carrying horizontal (Figs. 5 T at substantially the same rate the shaft T (Figs. gears U and: V there is driven the shaft W. At the'opposite side of the machine there are similar 1 gears U"-and V and a shaft W which is rotated at the same rate as the shaft T. a further ear X there is driven a gear at a rate epending upon the ratio between the gears U and The gear Y is lbose on a shaft 1;. runnin through the centers of the disks M- and ill.

.U is an idle gear supported by pivoted arms a (Fig. 6) from the shaft '1 so as by swinging to one side to permit the use of a gearV' of various sizes, and this gear V is made removable and changeable according to the price of gas.

For convenience of distinction. the shaft W which rotates at'the same rate as the meter shaft, is called the principal or synchronous shaft, andthe hub of the gear Y whichrotates at a different rate is called the secondary or rate-controlled shaft.*- The thumbnuts I) and 0 permit of the removal and-reof gears'V of various sizes. To punch the card shown the principal disks, representing the actual consumption of gas, are arranged at the left in Fig. 5; and the disks, representing the cost, are arrange at the right. The principal disks are controlled by the upper or "synchronous shaft W,

The shaft W and gear Y rotate continuously as long as the meter is running, and inorder that the recording'mechanism (the disks and pinions' of which rotate freely. on the shafts) shall snap from one position quickly to the next so as to avoid the taking of records art -intermediate positions,-their rotation is converted into regular intermittent movements by means of escapements whi h I designate as a whole by the letters d and-d respectively Such an esc'apement may be of afcommon type, as indicated in Fig. 18, where a pentagonal plate or cam e is mounted on the shaft W and lifts and lowers the laterally projecting end of an arm 9 which is loose on a lateral shaft the shaft 01, for convenience) and which is fixed to anescapeinent anchor j having two arms which engage a five-toothed escapeinent wheel is which is free to rotate on the shaft W and is connected thereto by a spiral spring Z. As the shaft rotates it and the secondary disks by the I "rate-controlled shaft or hub of the. gear Y.

it'ends' to rotate the escapement wheel is, but ithe latter is held by the escapement anchor 3' until the latter is moved in one or the other idirection by the pentagonal cam e. The esicapement wheel therefore snaps from one position to-thenext and carries with it the shaft which operates the first or unit wheel of the record controlling mechanism. The

principal or synchronous drive, that of the left-hand roup of wheels in Fig. 5, is from the s aft W. The drive of the right- ;hand' group 82 is from the gear Y.

The lower shaft or hub'of the gear Y rotates about a smaller'shaft n which extends continuously through both groups of disks .M and their corresponding pinions. The

@shaft W extends only through the upper ,pinions corresponding with the grou 80. lThe upper pinions corresponding wit the group 82 are carried upon an entirely indegpendent shaft, which with its pinions may gbe raised to disengage the pinions carried gthereby from the lower set of pinions. The .construction will be more clearly understood aby reference to Fig; 26, (illustrating another istyle of apparatus hereinafter described in more detail). which shows the separate shaft m with the gears thereonin section. Of the live disks M in the roup, the one at the right, M, correspon s to the units place. iAlongside of and fastened thereto is a tenitoothcd pinion go On the shaft W at the iright-hand end is a disk 0 having a single itooth, the shape of the disks 0 and 12 being gind'icated at 0 and p in Fig. 16. Oonsegquently for each revolution of the shaft W the pinion p makes one-tenth of a revolution, and the punch-controlling disk M likewise makes one-tenth of a revolution. The .disk or one-toothed pinion 0 is keyed upon the shaft W, but the remaining pinions thereon are free. Rotating with the pinion p and the disk M is a second pinion 9 engaging a pinion r on the shaft W. This inion r carries the second one-toothed pin- 1011 or disk 0 corresponding to the tens }place, and driving the second ten-toothed jpinion, 17 which is attached to the second 1 punch-coptrolling disk :M

E of the gear Y carries at the right-hand end @of the group a one toothed pinion 0 which I engages a ten-toothed pinion'p which is loose ion the shaft m and which is attached to a fsimple pinion g which drives-an identical pinion 1' which is'rotatable about the shaft Thus the motion. is transmitted from the unit poin't as-.in

of disksand pinions 82 takes place,

' shaft T which is arranged near the top of the machine, the entire mass of gearing being swung forward when the punches are to be operated. Besides this principal action, several other actions are introduced. First the punch-controlling disks M are locked by means of forked arms 8 (Figs. 9 and 9) carried on a common shaft t and adapted to be swun up to engage the several pinions g' 0 which carry the disks, M. '0 (Figs. 9, 9! and 15) on the shaft J and carrying in slots at their opposite ends the shaft m of the upper line of gears, are swung upwardly to withdraw these gears the same time by causingtwo teeth of such upper gears to straddle fixed projections ,y from the inner arms 1:. Thereupon the punch-controlling disks, the different sets of gears, and the pawls a, are all swung forwardly by rotating the hollow shaft 2 surrounding the main shaft T and on which are mounted the arms g and r which carry the shafts and gears.

' Two of the inner arm'sr (see Figs. 7 and 9) which swing with the arms 9 have lateral projections 3 which carry a pin 4 which in turn carries the fixed oup of punches 5 for punching the identi ying number ofthe meter; the forward ends of the punches being supported in the inner wall of the pocket, and the free ends being supported by the pin 4 which lies in horizontal slots in brackets 6. Therefore the forward movement described operates also the punches 5.

The setting pins P are preferably tapered on their ends and adapted to enter previously provided perforations P (Fig. l) in the card and openings P (Fig. 3) in the pocket wall, and to force the card to its correct position in the pocket and hold it there while it is being punched. These pins are supported near the lower ed e of the plate N previously referred to. The plate N is provided at its ends with lateral arms 7 see Figs. 8, 9 and 13 supported at their free ends upon fixed standards 8 by a pin-andslot connection, and connected by pins 9 working in slots in the arms 7 to the forward lateral projections 9 of the arms 1 which carry the lower shaft n and move forward and backward therewith. Consequently the plate N and setting pins P are advanced Then arms ment, while the pocket was at each operation and retracted with the punch-controlling. disks M. The several operations are all effected by the operation of the' key shaft 10 (Figs. 8,9 and 10). Any suitable lock. is rovided in the wall 11 of the casing, throug which can pass only thekey for which the lock is de-' .signed, and the key is arran ed to engage 10. For a' better leverage to effect the unching operathe "squared end of the sha tions the key may be provi ed with a crank handle instead of the ordinary small ring or disk, but the pressure required is not so great as to necessitate this. The first effect of turning the shaft 10 in the unlocking direction, that is, to the left is to operate the slotted cams 11 (Fig. 112 whose slots engage pins 12 in the ends 0 arms 13 loose on the shaft J and connected with the arms H previously described, so as to open the upper edge of the pocket. The same movement of the arms 13 swings down arms 14 connected therewith, and brings a cross-bar 15 (supported between the ends of pivoted arms 15") down into position to be enfrom engagement with the gears on the lower shaft, and to lock the upper gears atgagiesd by zero stops (the teethon the several dis 0, Fig. 16) connected with the several punch-actuating disks M, so that in turn' these disks back as hereinafter describ dd they shall each be stopped at zero.

. As soon as the key is moved far enough to open. the pocket, the operator slips a card in and then continues the movement of the key in the same direction. The swin ing of the arms .16 (Fig. 14) has no e ect through a movement of the shaft sufiicient to open the card pocket. Thereafter, however, it pulls the arm 9 forward against the tendency of the springs 17. This is the forward movement which actuates the the first moveing opened and the card introduced, the shaft m was first lifted by lifting the arms '0 (Figs. 15 and 15), through the turning of the shaft J. A spring 18 (Fig. 15) tends always to Lift these arms, which are keyed on the shaft J, which shaft is provided with a depending arm 19 (Fig. 12) the lower end of which in the ordinary position of the mechanism is engaged and held back by a cam 20 on the key shaft 10, so that the first unlocking punches 5 and K. Durin movement of the key shaft releases the shaft J and allows the spring 18 to draw the arms 42 and the gears 7' up.

. The releasing of the shaft J by the first turn of the key, and the consequent upward pull of the spring 18 (Figs. 15 and 15),

'serves also to throw the locking levers a into engagement with the gears g. It is desirable also for reasons hereinafter .stated to withdraw the locking levers s at the beginning of the backward movement. "This locking of the gears at the beginning of the forward movement, and

man ge of ,them a. the beginningto fiee'ted -;by; the

the" rearward movement, is he mechanism, isho wn indetail' in Figs. 1.5 and The shaft ton which the several levers s are mounted is carried inthe lowerllateral' projections. 9" of arms; 2' whichfswing for ward, backward with-the lower set 0 gears. On one end of theshaft tis key an arm 21jwhich is connected by a spring ,22

the mechanism by the engagement of vthe upper tapered-edge 23 of 1 this arm withn pin 24 uponan arm25 swinging about, a fixed ivot pin 26,, and whose outer end P s e o r 1M. sp n v The pawl 27 a horizontal arm carthe arm- 21 is limited to a distance to bring, the locking arms into en tying. a pm which rests in avnotch in the lower en of a link 31 whoseupper end is connected to one: of the arms v. quently upon, the. first movement of the key the link 31 is drawn up by the'sprin 18, It pulls upward the horizontalarm 0 the pawl 27, and swings the latter back to the position of Fig. 15%; whereupon the upward tendency of the arm 21 acting on t e pin 24 forces t e arm 25 upward to a point to 'pre-, vent-the return of the pawl 27, at the same time turning the shaft 23 and the several locking arms 8. Upon the/return of the key backward to its starting position the locking arms 8 must be withdrawn from their gears before the conclusion of the backward movement, so as to perm itrthe return of these gears back to zero. It is in obtaining this action that the tapering edge 23 of the arm 21 is utilized. The upward movement of sufficient v agement withthe gears, andsubstantiallyt is. entire movement is effected as soon as the pawl 27 is withdrawn from over the end of the arm 25. The succeeding backward movement of the arm 21 allows a gradual downward movement of the pin 24, alon the inclined edge 23, thearm- 25 being un er the downward pullof a light spring 32 By the time the end of the forward punchingmovement 42 has been reached, the arm 25 has moved so far down,,a'nd the link- 81 has moved so far up, that the pawl 27 springs in again over the end of the arm 25 and holds it a ainst upward movement. Therefore'u-pon t e return or backward movement pf the arms 7 carrying the lower set of gears and the shaft ,1? with its arm 21, the obliq ue edge 23 of this arm engages the pin 24 and causes the arm 21 to be moved downward in position to withdraw the lockingarms from the gears,

onthe next operation. a a t The several gears g. anddisks 0 are provided with recesses" 33 (Figs. .9, 9e and 16).

in which travel springs 34: mounted on 001- Gonselars on the shaft nand bent in such 'a Way tht ,,when the shaft'is turnedto the left the ten ency is to increase the bend of the pring-t mid t, weaken its frictional grip ongthe gear, but when turned'to the right 1; e tendency to straighten out the spring and to increase its grip on thegear. The normal move ents ofv the earsfand punchactuating dis s to sfl ihfl rig}: is effected by the described connebtions with the meter shaft, and the springs 34 yield to such movement. The springs: 34; prevent 1 any backward movement by anymeanswhatever, so that nowtampering with the meter can reduce a, readmgpnce im pfies'sed upon the punchaetnating disks. e turning'of. the disks back to zero is efiected by rotatlonin the same i say, to the right, but t is rotationis communicated through the shaft n. The mechanism for effecting the movement. is shown most clearly in Figs. 10 and 1't.; Referring first jtothe latter. figure, fire-shaf a i n ts n a casing 35 withinternalratchet teeth, the-casing being rotatable: on the shaft and carrying on its outer" face a pinion 36 by'means of which it maybe rotated. Fixedon the end of the shaft is a pawl 37 pres ed into engag'gement with the internal rate et, so that as the latterturnsto the'left thereis no communication'of motion to the shaft, but as the casing is turned to the right the shaft is moved "in the same direction. -This motion of the shaft 1 through the springs 84 forces the pinions 9 an the punch-operating segments around to the right with a stroll feilctional force, so that they move unt' t ey are stopped by the positive-stop 15. The rotationof the. pinion 36 is effected bymeans of a-curved rack 37 pivotedat 38 on the lower part 9 of one of the arms 1%. The key shaft 10 has fixed thereon-an arm orplate 39 having a slot 40 engaging a pin 41 upon a second arm 42 carried loosely on the shaft 10, and which arm has-a pin 43 projecting from the side opposite the pin 11 and in the plane of the radial arm 4 1 of the segment 37 The segment 37 has near its lower end a pin 45 lying in the plane of movement of the arm Therefore as the arm 12 is moved upward it strikes the arm 4 1 and moves the dir ection,--that is to say, to. the left. This actuating disks. Upon the return movement of the key, distance corresponding to the slot 40 and to the play. of the arm 42. in swinging down from the position of engagement with the arm 44 to that of engagement with the pin {hit represents sufficient lost motion to' permit of the withdrawalof the locking arms 8 from the gears, after which a movement of the shaft to the right is effected, with a corresponding movement of the gears around rack and turns the pinion in the ineffective movement has no. effect upon the punchturning to the right, the

to their zero point, where they are stopped,

and any further movement of the shaft the key a further turn forward, which causes the punching of the holes B""G'-a'nd D in the card, after which the key "is turned partly back, the card withdrawn, and the key turned fully back to its startin position and withdrawn. The first part 0% the forward movement of the key not only uncovers the pocket,'bl1t also turns the cam 20 (Fig. 12) so as to release the shaft J and allow the spring 18 (Figs. 15 15) to release the holding mechanism so as to permit an upward movement of the locks s which holds the printing disks M M in the position to which the have been rotated b the meter shaft. The second part of t e forward movement of the key throws down the zero stop 15 and advances the punching disks M M and the punches K to'punch the holes B and C respectively in the card, and also advances the fixed punches 5 to punch the identifying number D in the card. This forward movement also turns the shaft m to the left without effect upon the disks carried thereby, and lifts the shaft m carrying the gears 12 through which the rotation of the right hand group of punching disks M is effected, so that these punching disks may be turned to zero later.

On the rearward movement of the key there is first a withdrawal of the locks 8 through the mechanism of Figs. 15, 15 and the swingin of the arms r carrying all the disks away 0111 the punching position, and a right handed movement of the shaft m to carry the punching disks around to the zero position, where the teeth of the one-toothed pinions 0 come up against the zero stops 15. Toward the end the shaft m carrying the upper set of gears corresponding to the punching disks M, is dropped to bring the several gears into engagement, after which the zero stop is lifted. Thepunches are withdrawn from the card, so that the latter can be removed. Thereafter the key is given its final backward turn, the shaft J is locked by the cam 20 (Fig. 12) and the arms 14 by the cams 11, and the key withdrawn. The further movement of the meter shaft ad vances the money disks M from zero and advances the disks M, which refer to cubic feet of gas,

the last reading; Instead of t e mechanism described for transmittlng the-movement ofthe meter continuodsly from the point 'of shaft tothe apparatus, a simple electric transmission as in Fig. 19 may be used, this design being adapted for any-style of meter, but being especially convenient in connec tion with electric meters. The meter shaft Q at each revolution wipes a terminal 46 over a fixed terminal 47 so as to complete the circuit through a solenoid 48 and draw in its core 49 carrying an arm 50. pivoted upon the shaft 51 of a ratchet wheel 52, the arm 50 carrying a pawl53 and the backward movement of the ratchet being "prevented by a pawl 54; so that each revolution of the meter shaft advances the shaft 51 one step. The shaft 51 maybe directly con uected to the-unit gear and disk of the recording mechanism.

The card and apparatus-shown in Figs. 20 to 25 inclusive involve certain differences, especially in the use of the card.

The amount of gas consumed is the total amount registered by the meter (supposing ers monthly blll, the amount of gas and ofmoney indicated by the previous card will be subtracted from the'amount indicated by the latest card. This will be done by means of a billing or subtracting machine, which will print the difference. when the two cards are put into the machine and the lever operated.

The face plate of the machine is provided with punches representing the distribution number, the consumers number, and the rate, all of which are fixed for any particular machine; and suitably located relatively to these fixed punches are series of movable punches representing the condition of the meter in units of volume and in monetary units. The units of volume for example may be indicated at 55 and the monetary units at 56. The spaces for fixed punches are in dicated at 55, 55", 55, 55 correspondin to Date, Distribution, Customers 0., and Rate respectively,-dating punches only being omitted, the dating being referably done with another machine. -T e corresponding spaces on the card are marked 55*, 55 55 and 55; the spaces for the amounts in feet and in money respectively being marked on the card, 55 and 55. The movable punches shown at 55 and 56 are driven from the shaft 57 of the meter through suitable gearin causing the reciprocation of a link 58 an slide 59, the latter operating the punch of the unit column,

which in turn operates the punch of the tens column, which in turn operates that of the through intermediate gearing proportioned to the price of gas and comprising a pinion 57 driven by the pinion 57, a gear 57, shaft 57 and pinions 57 and 57. 1

The pins must advance from one digit to the next suddenly in order to avoid their being between two spaces when a card is introduced and perforating the card accordingly. This effect is obtained through an intermediate sleeve 60 which is pressed down on the lower portion of the slide 59 by means of a strong spring 62, this sleeve carrying a pawl 63 extending transversely through the sleeve and adapted to project out therefrom either at the left to engage ratchet teeth on the slide 64 carrying the unit pin, or to project outward at the right as shown in the figure in the drawing, so that when the slide 59 lifts it, it clicks over and is held up by the end of a leaf-spring 65. The movement of the double pawl 63 to the left is effected by an oblique edge 66 (Fig. 22) on the portion of the slide 59, which passes through the sleeve 60; and its movement to the right is effected by a similar shoulder 67 as the slide rises. ing the slide to be in its lowest'position and also the sleeve 60, then as the slide rises the inclined edge 66 throws the pawl 63 outward at the right. The continued rising of the slide lifts the sleeve 60 until the pawl 63 catches over the end'of the spring 65. Then the slide 59 commences to descend, but this descent has no effect until the inclined edge 66 engages the left-hand portion of the pawl 63 and throws the latter out to the left. As soon as it is thrown out to the left, it is in position to engage the adjacent teeth of the slide 64, and the continuanee' of the lateral movement of the pawl withdraws it from the support 65. While the sleeve 60 was held up and the slide 59 was descending, the spring 62 was compressed, so that when the support of the sleeve is withdrawn it moves down sudpunch slide 64 has a ratchet which is clicked over one tooth of a holding pawl in the downward movement described, and is drawn back by a spring which pulls it up- 65 The several slides travel in suitable groovesward, so that its movement is accurately limited. The punch slide 64 carries a punch.

about the middle point of its outer edge.

Suppos- I 61 in a plate 68 and are drawn toward the zero position by springs '69 (Fig. 24). Each slide is checked howeverin its backward movement by aratchet 7O fixed in position upon the plate 68, and adapted to be engaged by a pawl 71 pivotall attached to the slide at its upper end. i t the end of each downward stroke the pawl 71 is lifted away from the ratchet by means of a rod 72 which runs longitudinally through the at both ends. Thus when the slide moves to its lowest position the lower end of 72 of the rod 72 strikes against the end piece 73 and is pressed upward sufficiently to free the pawl 71; and the rod 72 retains this position until the spring 69 has raised the slide again to its uppermost position, causing the rod 72 to strike a fixed cross bar 72 to be pushed back again to a position which allows the pawl to come into action against the ratchet 70.

As each bar moves from 9 to zero, it must carry the bar of the next decimal place forward one space. To accomplish this a recess is sunk in the left hand. edge of each bar and a ratchet cut in its right hand sliding edge. In the recess is fastened a small pawl 74 Figs. 21 and 21 which in its normal position is flush with the side face ofthe bar, being held so by a small spring at its back. It is provided, however, with a pin 75 pro jecting above the upper edge and adapted to move laterally in a suitable slot 75*. As the slide carrying this pawl and pin advanees from 8 to 9, the small pin traverses a slot 75 in the underface of the top plate 75 of the casing. This slot being beveled so as to throw the pin and with it the pawl to the left, brings the pawl beyond the face L of the punch slide into engagement with one of the teeth of the ratchet of the next punch slide. On the next step, as the slide carrying the pawl advances beyond. 9, it carrice the next higher slide one space, and then itself returns to zero in the manner previously described.

Over the pins is hinged cover 7 6 on the inner face of which is fastened a block 76 of-the same size. as the card 77 and exactly A "fittin in the card recess formed in the top plate 75 of the frame. It is'provided with perforations corresponding to all positions of the pins. The cover of the box is opened,

closing the cover again'the strip 78 is re placed in order to preventthe plate 76 from 75 center of the-slide 64 and projects beyond it being lowered sufficiently to interfere with the movement of the pins.

A simple modification to adapt the apparatus of Fig. 2 for the recording of a dif ferential reading of the meter as well as a total reading, and as well as a differential reading of the cost, will be understood from Figs. 26 to 30 inclusive. The group of disks indicatedat 80 are operated to register the total number of cubic feet, corresponding with the ordinary reading of the meter. The group indicated at 81 represents the differential reading of the meter, that is to say, the number of cubic feet which the meter has advanced since the last previous record was made. The unit wheel of this group is driven from a pinion 81" (Fig. 27)

carried on a shaft 81 suspended outside of the disks and having a pinion 81 at one end driven by a gear 81 attached to the unit disk M of the group 80. The gear 81 by which-the rotation of the pinion 81 is transmitted to the unit disk of the group 81 is identical with the gear 81, so that these two groups rotate at the same speed. But the group 81 is returned to zero with the group 82 after each operation. The group marked 82 corresponds with the cost of the gas pissing through the meter since the last pre vious record. It is only necessary to provide that the groups 81 and 82 shall be turned back to the zero position after the making of each record. Except for the provision of the'additional group of disks 81 and the corresponding punches and accessories, this apparatus is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 18. The transmission of the rotary movement from the main shaft T to the punch-controlling disks is shown perhaps more clearly in the sectional view, Fig. 26, than in the previous views.

The cards shown in Figs. 1 and 30 have also special provisions for classification and for easily separating all the. cards of one class from those of another. The cards are provided along one edge, the lower ed e in the present case, with a number of per orations 83 corresponding with the several classes into which the cards are to be divided. Each meter has besides the punches previously referred to a punch 84' moving forward with the, setting punches and cutting in the lower edge of the card a flaring notch 84. For one class of consumers'or cards the notches 84: will be located at one position, and for another class at. another position. The notches 84-will always register'with one or another of the perforations 83. lVhen the cards are placed in a box or drawer of the usual card-index style, they will be placed with their bottom edges upward. They may be arranged indiscriminately in the box, and yet by means of the perforations 83 and notches 8 L it will be possible to quickly separate from the others,

at a single movement all the cards belon mg to any one desired class. only necessary to introduce a wire through the line of perforations corresponding with the class in question (as for example the perforations which are sixth from the left-hand end where the cards of the class shown in Fig. 30 are to be separated). Then by lifting this wire all cards other than those which are to be separated will be removed from the box by reason of the engagement of the wire with the complete perforations 83; and all cards of the class desired .will remain in the box by reason of the fact that the wire will lift freely out of the notch-84 of each card of this class. The principle might be reversed by cutting away all'perforations except one, which one would be in a position corresponding to the class desired. Then the insertion of a wire as before described, and the lifting of it out of the box would result in the removal of all cards of the class desired and the retention in the box of all other cards. Or the principle might be extended to provide for two or more notches8 l or two or more closed perforations for any one card which it is desired to include in two or more classes.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a meter the reading of which increases continuously, of punchin mechanism adapted at each operation' to lndicatethe difference between the present reading and the last previous reading of the meter and means for automatically returning said mechanism to its zero position after each operation.

2. The combination with a meter the reading of which increases continuously, of punchlng mechanism which is automaticall set up in corres ondence to the meter read ing and adapte at each operation to indicate the difference between the present reading and the last previous reading of the meter and to be automatically returned to its zero position.

3. An apparatus for indicating the increase in reading of a meter, including meter mechanism, a set of laterally immovable punches and laterally movable operating mechanism therefor which is automaticall set up in correspondence to the meter read in and adapted to operate said punches to in icate at each operation the increase in reading of the meter since the previous operatlon.

4. In a machine ofthe class described,

To do this 1t is punching mechanism including a set of key.

movable punching mechanism, including a set of punches fixed against lateral movement and operating nrechanism therefor adapted to be controlled by-the position of a meter, and means adapted for engagement by a key and for operating said punch-operating mechanism by.the turning of such key.

continuously operating automatic registering mechanism, means for recording the advance of said mechanism since the last previous record and means controlled by said recording means .for turning said recording mechanism back to zero after making each record.

8. In a machine of the class described, a recording mechanism including a disk adapted to be rotated as the position of the meter advances, a shaft n on which said disk turns, and a spring 34 for transmitting frictionally the movement of said shaft to said disk in one direction only. a

9. In a machine of the class described, a recording mechanism includinga disk adapted to be rotated as the position of the meter advances, a shaft in one direction only n on which said disk turns, a spring 34 adapted to transmit frictiona'lly to said disk the rotation of said shaft, and a. positive stop for preventing rotation of said shaft past its starting point under the influence of said shaftand spring.

10. In a machine of the class described, a recording mechanism includinga disk adapted to be rotated as the position of the meter advances, a pocket having a closure Gr, an arm H connected with said closure, an arm 14 carrying a zero stop 15, and an arm 13, said arms H, 13 and 14 being connected together, and means for swinging said arm 13 to open said closure and to bring said stop 15 to operative position to stop the rotation of said disk beyond its starting point.

11. In a'machine of the class described, a punch-controlling disk, a gear u rotating therewith, a locking arm 5, means for bringing said locking arm into engagement with said ear, and means for actuating saiddisk to e ect a punching operation while said gear is locked.

12. In a machine of the class described, a punch-controlling disk, a gear a rotating In a machine of the class described, a

therewith, a locln'ng arm 5, a member 9 car.- rying said disk, a shaft t for said locking arm 5 and carried also on said member a pivoted arm 25, an arm '21 on said sha t t normally engaged and held down by said arm 25 to. prevent engagement of said lock ing arm wlth said gear, means for first releasing said arm 25 and permitting a lock ing-movement of said shaft t and lockin arm 8, then advancing the member wit said disk and lockingvarm, means or re turning the arm 25 to its normal position and locking it there, said arm 21 being adapted to be engaged by said arm 25- on the first return movement of the member q, and forced in a direction to withdraw the locking arm ,9.

13. In a machine of theclass described, a set of punches, and means for advancing said punches selectively, including a circular member having arranged about its periphery difierently grouped projections and recesses, and means for rotating said mem' ber ,to bring such groups in succession in register with said punches.

14:. In a machine of the class described, a series of sets of punches, and means fbr advancing the punches of each set selectively, including a circular member for each set adapted as it is rotated to come successively into position to actuate the punches of its set corresponding to the numerals from zero to nine, means for-rotating the first or unit "one of said members, and

means for communicating every tenth step of one member to the member corresponding to the next higher decimal place.

15. In a punching machine of the class described, punching mechanism, two sets of gears each having a unit Wheel, one of said unit wheels being driven at a determined rate relatively to the other, each set containing also one or more Wheels representing the higher decimal places, means for transmitting every tenth movement of one of said wheels to the wheel of the next higher decimal place, the two sets of gears being mounted on a common shaft, said shaft being supported upon pivoted arms, and means forswinging said arms to advance the shaft in effecting a punching operation.

16. An apparatus for indicating an amount corresponding to the difierence between two successive readings of a meter, including a set of punches fixed against lateral movement and movable operating mechanism therefor controlled by the position of the meter mechanism, and supplementary punching mechanism standing at a determined position representing a rate according to which the meter reading is to be modified.

17. An apparatus for indicating the difference between two successive readings of a meter, including punching mechanism controlled by the position of the meter mechanism, a pocket for receiving a card, and a cover for said pocket the opening and closing movement of which effects a punching operation.

18. The combination. with a meter, of means controlled by said meter for separately moving a number of punches into various positions relatively to each other to punch a card so as to indicate according to a determined system the condition of the meter.

1-9. The combination with a meter, of means controlled by said meter for setting simultaneously in position according to a determined system two series of punches, one indicating the condition of the meter in quantitative units, and the other indicating the price corresponding to the quantity.

20. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of recording mechanisms, means for multiplying the rate of advance of a first one by a desired factor to determine the rate of advance of a second, means for causing a recording operation and meanssame rate as the first and is automatically shifted to zero after a recording operation, 'and the third of which advances at a rate having a determined relation to the rate of advance of the first shaft and which is also automatically turned 'to zero after a recording operation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ROYDEN PEIRCE.

Witnesses:

DOMINGO A. UsMA, THEODORE T. SNELL. 

